826 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[April 2S, 1^3. 
^ 
Proprietors of shooting resorts will find it profitable to advertise 
them in Foekst and Stkkak. 
My First Hunting Trip. 
Who would believe it? Two years ago I fired a shot- 
gun for the first time. I handed it back witli disgust, 
swearing never to touch such a cursed thing again, for 
not only did I miss the bird, but, as if for punishment, I 
had my shoulder kicked green and blue. The consolation 
v.hich I got from my companion was a laugh and the ad- 
vice to hold the gun to the shoulder next time, not half 
a mile from it. 
It took quite a while to get over my disgust with shot- 
guns, though I could not withstand the temptation to ac- 
cept an invitation to a pigeon shoot. Once there I over- 
came the distrust and brought up the gun as advised. I 
soon found that I could do as good work as the rest, if 
not better; in fact, after a while I could understand how 
a man can be in love with his gun. Christmas brought 
a most welcome gift, a fine rifle — a Savage little affan- 
which promised me lots of fun. Too late in the season, 
1 had to wait for my occasion the coming October. I 
found a companion who shared my inclinations, and by 
the middle of October we were off to the nearest hunting 
grounds which promised to give us the much looked for 
sport. 
As I cannot absent myself too long from my profes- 
sional work, we decided to go to Maine, and on inquiry 
we selected Mesardis as our starting point. The trip 
v.'as uneventful, although for me — and I have traveled 
much — full of interesting sights. An amusing incident 
occurred on board the train while nearing Bangor. It 
was a traveling rum shop. A lot of robust looking lum- 
bermen came into the smoker led by a decrepit looking 
fellow, who had his hip pockets stuflFed with quart bottles 
of gin or applejack. Every now and then he would march 
up to a fellow and address him with : "Come, I have one 
with you now." He then produced a dirty looking 
tumbler and filled it to the other's heart's content with 
fi^re-water. After the tumbler was returned, he took his 
horn with a smile. A few words of conversation followed 
and out came a little book, the ledger, and the victim 
was charged with so much; and these tactics he kept up, 
returning to the same man three and four times, and 
never forgetting his book. • When we were near to the 
station our Boniface made his final trip, asking each one 
to pay or to sign his name to the amount he was indebted. 
But alas ! it was easier to give the drinks than to collect 
the pay. Bangor made an end to the squabble and we all 
felt relieved. 
From Bangor upward the route is rich in scenic effects ; 
the most impressive sight is the Katahdin Mountain, a 
giant among giants, its smnmit covered with fresh fallen 
snow. Station after station the crowded cars became 
emptier, and when we reached Masardis only a few 
sportsmen remained who went further up into the woods. 
Our host, Mr. Libby, was awaiting us with a comfort- 
able buckboard; he bundled us up snugly in buiTalo skins 
and soon we were on the way to Oxbow, a distance of 
about ten miles, which we covered, although the roads 
were bad, in less than two hours. Once in Oxbow we 
were cared for with all home comfort, almost too tenderly 
for sports who are out to rough it. 
After a good night's rest we started early in the morn- 
ing on our trip up the Aroostook River. As usual, oiir 
guides had provided for the canoes. It was our intention 
to travel all day to reach a certain camp in the evening. 
The weather was raw, rain drizzled all day, the river 
was very low ; in short, there was no pleasure for us or 
guides, who had their greatest trouble to push the frail 
craft over the eddies up stream. 
Toward evening my man, who was of the two the 
stronger, but not the wittier, was quite a distance in ad- 
vance of my companion's canoe. We reached a carry 
where canoe and outfit have to be carried for about a 
mile; he thought it best that he would bring his canoe to 
the upper side, that meanwhile my friend would come up 
and could follow. So it came that I found myself alone 
on the banks of the Aroostook River in pouring rain, 
peeping expectantly down stream for the second canoe. 
Now, that canoe did not come, nor did my guide come 
back, but night came, and that suddenly, too. Shivering 
from cold, sneezing and coughing, I looked around and 
tried to decide what was best to do under the circum- 
stances. The blankets were gone, the victuals were in the 
second canoe. All I had were the few belongings which 
I carried on my person, including matches, hunting knife, 
and on my chest a Boston Sunday paper to keep warm. 
Before it became too dark I began to cut ofif all the 
branches which I could reach from the surrounding firs 
and pines. Soon I had a big pile and before long I had 
started a blaze, which illuminated the skies to such a dis- 
tance that even my guide a mile away noticed that some- 
thing was wrong and returned. I had my great troubles 
to keep the fire going, as mj-- knife had become dull and 
as dry wood was not to be found. The guide felled some 
trees and green as they were they burned lustily. 
What had become of my companion? Undoubtedly his 
canoe had sprung a leak while passing one of the many 
shallow places ; the poor man was probably in the same 
stress some miles down the stream as I was up here. 
We decided to spend the night here. Supper consisted 
of a drink of chocolate made in an old tin can which we 
found on the ground and a swallow of whisky; to keep 
warm, I danced around the fire all night like an Indian, 
steaming in front and freezing on the back. 
At daybreak we decided to continue our trip to the 
camp and to return in the afternoon for my companion, 
if necessary. About 10 A. M., after crossing a lake, we 
reached the camp. The first man we met was our lost 
friend, who asked us most sympathetically where we had 
been so long, why we spent the night in rain while a good 
warm bed was awaiting us nearby. His guide had injured 
his hand and had to give up canoeing. They had tramped 
several miles over an old tote road, and had many times 
been in danger of breaking their necks, but nevertheless 
had reached the lake about 10 P. M. They built a fire to 
attract the attention of the camp and soon a canoe called 
for them, and after a hearty supper they had retired. 
I was suffering from a peculiar feeling of misplaced 
confidence, but I got over it, and the incident ended in a 
laugh and a change of clothing. 
We needed a rest, so we spent the day in restoration of 
the inner man and turned in soon, as we wanted to start 
early next morning. 
The weather had changed ; though cold the atmosphere 
was clear and bracing. My friend's guide had fetched 
the abandoned canoe the previous day, and we both em- 
barked, I taking good care not to lose sight of the second 
canoe again. For a distance of about four miles we had a 
chance to stretch our legs in a brisk walk along the 
borders of the river, a most welcome exericse after being 
cramped and frozen in a canoe for hours. The night we 
spent in a camp which we reached shortly before sunset. 
Seven o'clock saw us in our canoes again ; a ride of 
three hours brought us to a tote road, and a tramp of 
eight miles lay before us to reach our final destination — 
Spider Lake. 
The guides packed themselves with our luggage; small 
as it was, a great burden considering the distance and 
the poor condition of the roads. 
We had not gone 500 paces when my first opportunity 
for action came. Stepping out of a pine cluster I saw 
standing before me a big buck. To say anything as to the 
size of horns would simply be an invitation for me to 
lie. for they could not have been as big as I thought and 
still think they were. My rifle rested leisurely against m\' 
shoulder, prepared for the long march, my eyes were fixed 
on this thing of beauty — my first buck.- It took quite a 
while before it was clear in my mind that something had 
to be done, aild when I did it the buck ran off, showing me, 
as a cordial adieu, his white flag. I had made a botch of 
it. Strong language followed all around. I saw in the 
eyes of the guides that they did not think much of me 
as a shot. 
Arrived at the camp our arrangement was great. Sixty 
miles from Oxbow, after a three days' trip over land and 
water, we found anything and everything the most spoiled 
city chap can ask for, from a good dinner with daily 
changes of table linen to a library of well selected books. 
To think that all these luxuries had to be carried here the 
same route we had come made a strong impression upon 
us and spoke worlds for the good will of the dear people 
to please in every way. The camp was so inviting that I 
can easily understand that a man with time on hand could 
content himself with the pleasures he finds in and around 
the camp for almost any length of time. With us it was 
different ; eight days was all the time we could spend 
here, and in this time our sporting tastes had to be 
satisfied. 
Next morning after a short consultation with the few 
sportsmen whom we met in the camp, each guide selected 
a different corner of the compass and we started to test 
our luck. Considering the short time of eight days I 
must confess that we did not economize properly our 
time, but I suppose many others have made the same mis- 
take. The hunting was not done with the same zeal the 
first few days as later on. True enough, we spent the 
whole day in the woods, but foolish things were done 
which should have been left undone. For instance, the first 
day I killed many partridge, and I do not know how 
much game I frightened away by my cannonade. On the 
fourth day I surely missed in this way my second oppor- 
tunity; a big buck started right in back of us after I had 
decapitated a partridge. 
From then on I kept my gun in control. I became foxy 
in a certain sense, for the first thing I met next day was 
a fox. which walked right up to me the same as if I was 
nobody; so near, in fact, that I could have used my rifle 
to give him a hypodermic injection of morphine instead of 
a shot. I had really no trouble to shoot him, so near did 
he come to my legs. The result of such a shot is plain — 
only head and neck of his fur were worth ta.king along. 
Ihe same day 1 shot at a doe, but I think there was still 
some buck fever in me, for I shot low, breaking one leg. 
We followed her up for some time, but we lost the track 
of blood among fallen trees in the swamp. That animal 
made wonderful jumps with that broken leg; she jiunped 
over obstacles six feet high. 
The sixth day snow had fallen, the best hunting condi- 
tions were prevailing, but it was the quietest day of all. 
We saw absolutely nothing of game; they were to an im- 
portant meeting somewhere, as my guide said. Something 
happened, though, which I want to relate for general 
benefit. We had taken our lunch on top of a hardwood 
ridge and worked our way downward to the swamps, 
when suddenly my guide, who had become nettled by 
this time by our poor luck, raised his rifle in the direction 
of a cluster of firs some 200 yards away. At the same 
moment a pair of arms came up in the air, and a loud 
voice hallooed : "Don't shoot !" A tragedy was averted by 
a hair's breadth. 
The man came up to us. He was as white as a sheet, 
and I suppose we were no ruddier color, either, to judge 
from the agitation I felt. It took a painful minute before 
we could speak. He had come from another camp fifteen 
miles away; he had left his guide a little while before to 
inspect some undergrowth. He saw us, or better, saw me 
come down the hillside for some time. The red cap which 
I wore had served its intended purpose as a danger 
signal. I had reflections of my own in how much more 
danger would we have been of being shot at by him in 
case I had not worn that flag, he being without guide and 
inexperienced, as he showed himself in the course of our 
conversation. Therefore, rather miss a chance to shoot a 
thousand times than to fire at the first moving object you 
meet in the woods. See your game distinctly, take time 
to aim, and then shoot straight if you can. This is 
sound advice. 
Guide and I were homesick after this: I do not think 
we spoke ten words until we reached camp. 
The seventh day we started early as usual. It seems we 
had found the meeting place of the game my guide had 
spoken of. In one bunch I saw ten does not more than 
200 yards away, but they were not to my taste, as my 
friend had shot two already. After an eight mile zigzag 
tramp, we saw four bucks, but it was beginning to get 
dark and we could not think of following them; we knew 
at least where they were. When I came to camp I gave 
my solemn promise that next day I would shoot a buck. 
We started early and did not make halt until we had 
reached the spot where we had seen the game the day 
before. After a while we saw two bucks far off and in a 
great hurry. Shortly after another buck came up and I 
knew that this was my buck. He was not as big as I 
would have liked to see him, but pleasing otherwise. He 
gave me the necessary time for aiming and fell shot 
through the shoulders. 
Now we could return to mother with a clear con- 
.sciencc, and after a farewell all around we started on 
our homeward trip the next morning. 
Although satisfied with my luck of having shot one 
buck, I kept in mind that each man was entitled to two; 
and so it came that after the eight mile walk was over 1 
sat in my canoe, rifle over my knee, ready for emergency. 
The first day was uneventful, we spent the night in a 
camp. The next day we reached the river, which, after 
the plentiful rain and snow, had become well filled and 
rapid. We shot along at good rate ; we were near Oxbow 
when suddenly I saw, about 300 yards off, a big buck get- 
ting into the stream trying to cross it. My canoe came so 
swiftly upon him that when 150 yards off I fired and the 
buck rolled in the water over and over. The next moment 
1 was close up to him, and in my joy I got hold of his tail, 
an undertaking which might have turned out disastrously 
to me and the guide, but fortunately it did not, for the 
buck was stone dead. The swift current turned us around 
like a shot, the buck acting as an anchorage; the judicious 
use of the piddle of my guide did the rest, and we landed 
safely. Aly companion having seen the lucky shot shared 
the joy of my luck; he saw our abrupt landing, but did 
not notice how much assistance against his will the buck 
had given us. His and his guide's aim was to see that 
buck and quickly, too; they made a landing like we did, 
minus anchorage, and the result was an overturned canoe, 
a sport, guide, guns and dunnage in the icy water. 
Now, ice water is all right at its proper time, place and 
combination, but surely not on such an occasion. Every- 
thing was wet ; we had to forget our buck for a time and 
start as quickly as possible a big fire, and from our meagre 
store of clothing we tried to make our poor adventurers 
comfortable. 
Who's fault was it? That was the question. We 
did not want to make anybody feel bad, so we 
put it on the dead one — the buck did it! Then 
curse ■ the buck ! was all our wretched fellows 
could say. Now, that curse did not keep me from taking 
that buck home with me, and by the time I served him to 
a circle of interested friends even my fellow sport 
had forgiven him the trick he had played him when he 
was the innocent cause of such an untimely balk. 
Sea C1.IFF, L. I. H. G. W. 
Lottery Cases and the Lacey Law^ 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The relation between game laws and interstate com- 
merce has always been a matter of interest to sportsmen; 
and this is especially true since the enactment of the 
Lacey law by Congress. In this connection, therefore, 
it is of interest to notice the development of the law as 
announced by the Unted States Supreme Court, on the 
various phases of this important question. Perhaps no 
single question, which still remains unsettled in the 
highest court of the land, is more important than this of 
the relation of the general Government to and its power 
over interstate commerce. 
The late cases, commonly called the Lottery Cases, 
have attracted widespread attention, and have been 
variously commented on by the newspapers and by law 
writers throughout the land. Many of these comments 
have been immature and hasty, and have displayed a very 
slight knowledge of the law, as well as an inaccurate 
reading or understanding of the decisions themselves. 
The cases in question were two : The first and most 
important being that of Champion vs. Ames, in which 
Champion had been indicted in the United States District 
Court for Texas for conspiracy, under Section 5440 of the 
United States Revised Statutes, in attempting to do an 
act prohibited by the Act of Congress of 1895, for the 
suppression of lotteries, the specific act charged being 
sending by express from Dallas, Texas, to Fresno, Cali- 
fornia, a package of lottery tickets in the Pan-American 
Lottei-y of Paraguay. The second case was an indictment 
of one Francis, under the same section, for a somewhat 
similar offense, that of sending policy slips from Ken- 
tucky to Ohio. As the court held in the latter case that 
the act charged was not an oft'ense under the statute for 
the suppression of lotteries, it is not necessary to further 
consider that case. 
The contention of counsel for the prisoner in the first . 
case was that the law was unconstitutional, that lottery 
tickets had no commercial value and could not therefore 
be articles of commerce, and that in any event the power 
given to Congress by the Constitution to regulate com- 
merce among the States did not include the power to 
absolutely prohibit it, as was attempted to be done by the 
act of 1895 referred to. _ 
The court, however, laid down the broad proposition 
that the act complained of constituted interstate com- 
merce ; and that the power to regulate included the power 
to prohibit. The court was careful to confine its decision 
to the precise question before it; and while it did not 
accept the suggestion of counsel for the prisoner that the 
question of whether or not an article had value was the 
only test of its commercial character, still held that lot- 
tery tickets were things of value. As to the suggestion 
made that if Congress could prohibit traffic in lottery 
tickets it could prohibit traffic in any and every article 
of commerce, the court said that such a result by no 
means followed; that the legislation of Congress was 
supplemental to that of most, if not all, the States, making 
lotteries illegal ; saying also that "It is a kind of traffic 
which no one can be entitled to pursue as of right ;" and 
that "As a State may, for the purpose of guarding the 
morals of its own people, forbid all sales of lottery tickets 
within its limits, so Congress, for the purpose of guard- 
ing the people of the LInited States against the 'wide- 
spread pestilence of lotteries' and to protect the commerce 
which concerns all the states, may prohibit the carrying 
of lottery tickets from one State to another." 
This, therefore, is another illustration of the often dis- 
puted but well-established doctrine of the exercise by the 
general Government of a police power of its own in aid 
of the exercise of such a power by the several States; a 
declaration, in another form, of the enunciation of the 
same court in a former case, that "there is a peace of the 
United States." 
